Directional antenna orientation optimization

ABSTRACT

A device, method, and computer-readable medium are provided for determining an optimal orientation for a directional antenna in a wireless communications system. Instructions are provided to position a directional antenna in each of a plurality of potential orientations. At each of the potential orientations, a serving node signal power level is ascertained, and an amount for reducing the transmit power of an uplink signal is determined for mitigating interference to non-serving nodes. An optimal orientation is determined based on the ascertained serving node signal power levels and the determined power reduction amounts for reducing uplink signal interference. In essence, the optimal orientation is determined based on received signal characteristics ascertained at each potential orientation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application having attorney docket number 11174/240211 and entitled“Directional Antenna Orientation Optimization” is related by subjectmatter to concurrently filed U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/092,756, entitled “Mitigating Uplink Interference.” The entirety ofthe aforementioned application is incorporated by reference herein.

SUMMARY

A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention are providedhere for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure and tointroduce a selection of concepts that are further described below inthe detailed-description section below. This summary is not intended toidentify key features or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation todetermine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In brief and at a high level, this disclosure describes methods andsystems for limiting undesirable uplink signal interference tonon-serving nodes that are adjacent to a serving node. Utilizing someembodiments described herein, an uplink signal transmission that isinterfering with non-serving nodes adjacent to a serving node ismitigated by reducing the transmit power of the uplink signal by anamount that is calculated based on ascertained characteristics ofdownlink signals received from the non-serving nodes. This disclosurealso describes, among other things, methods and systems for determiningan optimal orientation of a directional antenna by employing in part thedescribed methods and systems for limiting undesirable uplink signalinterference to non-serving nodes. Utilizing some embodiments describedherein, an optimal antenna orientation is determined based onascertained downlink signal characteristics and uplink signalinterference mitigation efforts at each potential orientation in whichthe directional antenna can be positioned.

In some embodiments described herein, the amount of uplink signalinterference caused to an adjacent non-serving node is reduced based onan ascertained signal power level of a downlink signal received from theadjacent non-serving node. An uplink signal is transmitted from asubject node to a serving node. The uplink signal is transmitted fromthe subject node at a particular power level. A downlink signal from anon-serving node is received by the subject node. When the downlinksignal is received, the subject node ascertains a received signal powerlevel that corresponds to the received non-serving downlink signal. Adetermination is made that the transmitted uplink signal is creatingexcessive interference with the non-serving node based on adetermination that the received signal power level of the receivednon-serving node downlink signal exceeds a predefined threshold. Inresponse to determining that the transmitted uplink signal is creatingexcessive interference with the non-serving node, the power level fortransmitting the uplink signal is reduced, thereby reducing the amountof uplink signal interference on the non-serving node.

In other embodiments described herein, an optimal antenna orientation isdetermined based on ascertained strengths of downlink signals receivedfrom potential serving nodes and determined amounts of uplink signalinterference caused to non-serving nodes that are adjacent to thepotential serving nodes. Instructions are provided to position adirectional antenna in various potential orientations. For each one ofthe potential orientations: a power level is ascertained for thestrongest serving node signal received by the directional antenna, andan amount to reduce the transmission power of the uplink signal iscalculated (e.g., for interference mitigation). A determination is madethat one of the potential orientations is an optimal orientation basedon the power levels ascertained for the received potential serving nodesignals and the calculated amounts for reducing the uplink signaltransmission power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, andwherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computing device according toimplementations of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an exemplary communications environmentsuitable for use in some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is another schematic of an exemplary communications environmentsuitable for use in further embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an exemplary uplink signal interferencemitigation system and an optimal antenna orientation determinationsystem, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 depicts a graphical representation of potential antennaorientations, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 6-8 provide an exemplary method for mitigating uplink signalinterference to non-serving nodes, in accordance with some embodimentsof the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 9-11 provide an exemplary method for determining an optimalantenna orientation, in accordance with further embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of select embodiments provided in the presentdisclosure is described with specificity herein to meet statutoryrequirements. But the description itself is not intended to define whatwe regard as our invention, which is what the claims do. The claimedsubject matter might be embodied in other ways to include differentsteps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in thisdocument, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order amongor between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when theorder of individual steps is explicitly described.

Throughout this disclosure, several acronyms and shorthand notations areused to aid the understanding of certain concepts pertaining to theassociated system and services. These acronyms and shorthand notationsare intended to help provide an easy methodology of communicating theideas expressed herein and are not meant to limit the scope ofembodiments described in the present disclosure. The following is a listof these acronyms:

-   -   3G Third-Generation Wireless Technology    -   4G Fourth-Generation Cellular Communication System    -   CD-ROM Compact Disk Read Only Memory    -   CDMA Code Division Multiple Access    -   eNodeB Evolved Node B    -   GIS Geographic/Geographical/Geospatial Information System    -   GPRS General Packet Radio Service    -   GSM Global System for Mobile communications    -   iDEN Integrated Digital Enhanced Network    -   DVD Digital Versatile Discs    -   EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory    -   LED Light Emitting Diode    -   LTE Long Term Evolution    -   MD Mobile Device    -   PC Personal Computer    -   PCS Personal Communications Service    -   PDA Personal Digital Assistant    -   RAM Random Access Memory    -   RET Remote Electrical Tilt    -   RF Radio-Frequency    -   RFI Radio-Frequency Interference    -   R/N Relay Node    -   RNR Reverse Noise Rise    -   ROM Read Only Memory    -   RSRP Reference Signal Receive Power    -   RSRQ Reference Signal Receive Quality    -   RSSI Received Signal Strength Indicator    -   SINR Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio    -   SNR Signal-to-noise ratio    -   SON Self-Organizing Networks    -   TDMA Time Division Multiple Access    -   UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems

Further, various technical terms are used throughout this description.An illustrative resource that fleshes out various aspects of these termscan be found in Newton's Telecom Dictionary, 30th Edition (2016).

Embodiments of our technology may be embodied as, among other things, adevice, method, system, or computer-program product. Accordingly, theembodiments may take the form of a hardware embodiment, or an embodimentcombining software and hardware. One embodiment described herein takesthe form of a computer-program product that includes computer-useableinstructions embodied on one or more computer-readable media.

Computer-readable media includes both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and non-removable media, and contemplate media readable by adatabase, a switch, and various other network devices. Network switches,routers, and related components are conventional in nature, as are meansof communicating with the same. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media comprise computer-storage media andcommunications media.

Computer-storage media, or machine-readable media, include mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storing information.Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions,data structures, program modules, and other data representations.Computer-storage media include, but are not limited to RAM, ROM, EEPROM,flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs(DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magneticstorage devices. These memory components can store data momentarily,temporarily, or permanently.

Communications media typically store computer-useableinstructions—including data structures and program modules—in amodulated data signal. The term “modulated data signal” refers to apropagated signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged to encode information in the signal. Communications mediainclude any information-delivery media. By way of example but notlimitation, communications media include wired media, such as a wirednetwork or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic,infrared, radio, microwave, spread-spectrum, and other wireless mediatechnologies. Combinations of the above are included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

Referring to the drawings in general, and initially to FIG. 1 inparticular, a block diagram of an illustrative computing deviceaccording to one embodiment is provided and referenced generally by thenumeral 100. Although some components are shown in the singular, theymay be plural. For example, communications device 100 might includemultiple processors or multiple radios, etc. As illustratively shown,communications device 100 includes a bus 110 that directly or indirectlycouples various components together including memory 112, a processor114, a presentation component 116, a radio 117, input/output ports 118,input/output components 120, and a power supply 122.

Memory 112 might take the form of memory components previouslydescribed. Thus, further elaboration will not be provided here, only tosay that memory component 112 can include any type of medium that iscapable of storing information (e.g., a database). A database can be anycollection of records. In one embodiment, memory 112 includes a set ofembodied computer-executable instructions that, when executed,facilitate various aspects disclosed herein. These embodied instructionswill variously be referred to as “instructions” or an “application” forshort.

Processor 114 might actually be multiple processors that receiveinstructions and process them accordingly. Presentation component 116includes the likes of a display, a speaker, as well as other componentsthat can present information (such as a lamp (LED), or even lightedkeyboards).

Numeral 117 represents a radio(s) that facilitates communication with awireless-telecommunications network. Illustrative wirelesstelecommunications technologies include CDMA, GPRS, TDMA, GSM, WiMax,LTE, and the like. In some embodiments, radio 117 might also facilitateother types of wireless communications including Wi-Fi communicationsand GIS communications. As can be appreciated, in various embodiments,radio 117 can be configured to support multiple technologies and/ormultiple radios can be utilized to support a technology or multipletechnologies.

Input/output port 118 might take on a variety of forms. Illustrativeinput/output ports include a USB jack, stereo jack, infrared port,proprietary communications ports, and the like. Input/output components120 include items such as keyboards, microphones, speakers, touchscreens, and any other item usable to directly or indirectly input datainto communications device 100. Power supply 122 includes items such asbatteries, fuel cells, or any other component that can act as a powersource to power communications device 100.

By way of background, radio-frequency interference (RFI) is, in essence,the effect of unwanted energy due to a combination of transmissionsreceived at a receiver (hereinafter also referenced as “radio”, whichmay include both a receiver and transmitter), manifested by anyperformance degradation, misinterpretation, or loss of information whichcould be extracted by the receiver in the absence of the unwantedenergy. In other words, when a receiver receives transmissions fromdevices that are not intended for receipt thereby, these “unintended”transmissions may interfere with the receiver's extraction ofinformation from “intended” transmissions for receipt by the receiver,thereby introducing signal noise, degrading service performance, and/orcompromising connectivity between the receiver and transmitter.

As quality of a desired signal is proportional to its strength, thegravity of signal interference caused by an interfering signal is alsoproportional to its strength. In other words, signal strength isproportional to the power (or “gain”) employed when transmitting thesignal. If the receiver is the intended recipient of a signal, increasedsignal strength on the transmission end can improve signal qualityreceived on the receiver end. However, if the receiver is not theintended recipient of a signal, increased signal strength on thetransmission end can cause increased interference on the receiver end.It can therefore be concluded that decreasing signal strength on thetransmission end can cause less interference with a receiver, providedthat the receiver is an unintended recipient of the signal.

A wireless communications system, such as a wireless telecommunicationssystem, may include multiple nodes that receive and transmit radiosignals in a network. Generally speaking, a node can include any activeelectronic device that is in communication with the network. Desirableconfigurations for wireless telecommunications systems minimizeinterference between radios associated with these nodes. Nodes, whichcan include base transceiver stations (BTS) or Evolved Node Bs (eNodeBs)(both hereinafter referenced as base transceiver stations “BTS”), may bepositioned in locations where cross-interference between their radios isminimized.

Generally speaking, base transceiver stations in wirelesstelecommunications systems have radios coupled to a set of directionalantennas configured for collectively transmitting signals in multipledirections to serve a corresponding coverage area. More specifically,BTS sector antennas comprise of three 120-degree beam angle directionalantennas that collectively cover a 360-degree coverage area around theBTS. Each sector antenna has its own sector ID and handover relations,that can handover a subject node to other sectors in the same or anotherBTS. When a subject node, such as a mobile phone, communicates with aparticular BTS (or a particular sector antenna therein), the subjectnode is most likely being serviced by the particular BTS (and aparticular sector antenna thereof) because of its location within thecorresponding sector, proximity to the BTS, and/or strength of signalreceived by the BTS, among other things. When the subject node passesfrom the sector corresponding to the particular BTS into another sectorthat corresponds to the same or an adjacent BTS, the subject node isinvolved in a “hand-off” operation, which coordinates the transfer ofcommunication between the subject node and particular BTS to that of thesubject node and adjacent BTS (or in some instances, the same BTS butdifferent sector antenna signal). More importantly, the serving BTS andadjacent BTS are positioned in locations that are close enough tofacilitate a handover, but not so close that signals transmitted fromeach BTS creates significant interference for the other BTS.

In accordance with embodiments described herein, subject nodes caninclude, among other things, user equipment (UE) and relay nodes (RN).User equipment can include any device used by an end-user to communicateover a wireless telecommunications network. User equipment can includemobile devices, mobile broadband adapters, or any other communicationsdevice employed to communicate with the wireless telecommunicationsnetwork. User equipment, as one of ordinary skill in the art mayappreciate, generally include antennas coupled to their radios fortransmitting and receiving signals. For instance, smart phones andlaptop broadband adapters typically have compact antennas that, in mostinstances, are omnidirectional.

Relay nodes (RN) are also employed in wireless telecommunicationssystems, and like user equipment, typically comprise omnidirectionalantennas for transmitting and receiving signals. Relay nodes aretypically utilized in wireless telecommunications systems to increasenetwork density, extend network coverage, rapidly roll-out new networkareas, and/or otherwise improve signal quality of a wirelesstelecommunications network.

The signal coverage distance of an omnidirectional antenna isproportional to its transmitter power. That is, with omnidirectionalsignal propagation, the coverage distance is, for the most part,uniformly distributed around the transmitter. In some instances,however, a directional antenna may be employed in lieu of theomnidirectional antenna. Directional antennas generally provide a moredirected signal transmission, having a more focused coverage area withgreater coverage distance. In this way, a UE or RN employing adirectional antenna can communicate with a wireless telecommunicationsnetwork without being within a coverage area or sector(s) of a servingnode, as will be described. Generally speaking, the uplink signalcoverage distance and area of a user equipment or relay node employing adirectional antenna is based in part on a gain (dBi) level of thedirectional antenna, a beam width of the directional antenna, and/or atransmission power level associated with the user equipment or relaynode.

Mathematically speaking, the coverage distance ratio of the directionalantenna to the omnidirectional antenna is equal to 10 raised to thepower of (the directional antenna gain divided by 20). To this end, arelay node employing a directional antenna with 0 dBi gain wouldtheoretically have the same coverage distance when employing anomnidirectional antenna, because 10^(0/20)=1. As such, when the relaynode employs a directional antenna having a gain that is greater than 0dBi, it can be concluded that the coverage distance of a directionalantenna is greater than the coverage distance of an omnidirectionalantenna.

Practically speaking, a user equipment or relay node employing adirectional antenna, when compared to its omnidirectional counterpart,may cause excessive interference to nodes that are adjacent to a servingnode or within the coverage area of uplink signals transmitted via thedirectional antenna. In essence, a subject node transmitting uplinksignals to a serving node (e.g., an “intended” recipient of thetransmitted uplink signal) via directional antenna may cause undesirableinterference with one or more non-serving nodes (i.e., an “unintended”recipient of the transmitted uplink signal) that are adjacent to, or inother words positioned within an area near the serving node such that itcan receive the subject node uplink signals. More particularly, thesubject node's uplink signals, when transmitted via the directionalantenna, may propagate a coverage area (e.g., distance and area) thatextends beyond what is necessary for maintaining stable communicationsbetween the subject node and serving node. If an adjacent non-servingnode is within the coverage area of the propagating uplink signal, theuplink signal may cause an undesirable amount of interference with theadjacent non-serving node's receiver. As one of ordinary skill in theart may appreciate, the uplink signal coverage area can be affected by atotal output power level at which the uplink signal is transmitted bythe subject node, and a beam width associated with the transmittingantenna, among other things. The total output power level can be basedon, among other things, a fixed gain level associated with thetransmitting antenna and/or an adjustable transmit power levelassociated with the transmitter of the subject node.

Utilizing embodiments described herein, interference to non-servingnodes adjacent to a serving node, introduced by uplink signaltransmissions from a subject node intended for the serving node, can bemitigated by the subject node based on non-serving node signals receivedby the subject node. In this regard, a subject node can be configured todetermine that uplink signals transmitted thereby are causing excessiveinterference to one or more non-serving nodes based on downlink signalsreceived therefrom. In embodiments, mitigation of the interference canbe facilitated by reducing the uplink signal transmit power level on thesubject node in response to determining that the transmitted uplinksignals are causing excessive interference to one or more non-servingnodes. In further embodiments, the interference can be mitigated withlittle or no negative impact to signal transmissions between the subjectnode and the serving node by identifying a power reduction amount basedat least in part on characteristics of the non-serving node downlinksignal.

Utilizing further embodiments described herein, an optimal orientationfor an antenna coupled to a subject node can be determined by thesubject node based on signals received thereby. The optimal orientationis, in essence, an orientation at which the subject node's antenna ispositioned, where the subject node can receive the strongest servingnode downlink signal from a particular serving node while requiring theleast amount of interference mitigation for non-serving nodes adjacentto the particular serving node. In embodiments, a sum of a downlinksignal power level and an identified power reduction amount for theuplink signal is calculated for association with each potentialorientation at which the directional antenna is positioned. Thepotential orientation having the highest calculated sum associatedtherewith is determined to be the optimal orientation. Morespecifically, in one instance, the higher the downlink signal powerlevel, the greater the calculated sum will be. In another instance, thehigher the identified power reduction amount, the lower the calculatedsum will be. In summary, the downlink signal power level positivelyimpacts the calculated sum, while the power reduction amount negativelyimpacts the calculated sum. In other embodiments, the downlink signalpower and identified power reduction amounts associated with eachpotential orientation are compared to corresponding thresholds todetermine the optimal orientation.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present disclosure, an embodimentis directed to a computer-implemented method for mitigating uplinksignal interference. The method includes transmitting an uplink signalfrom a subject node to a serving node. The uplink signal is transmittedfrom the subject node with a total uplink signal transmit power level.The subject node receives, among other things, a particular non-servingnode downlink signal from a particular non-serving node. The particularnon-serving node downlink signal received by the subject node has acorresponding received signal power level that is determined by thesubject node. The subject node can determine that the transmitted uplinksignal is creating excessive interference with the particularnon-serving node based on the corresponding received signal power level.In response to determining that the transmitted uplink signal iscreating excessive interference with the particular non-serving node,the subject node reduces the total uplink signal transmit power level tomitigate the amount of interference on at least the particularnon-serving node caused by the transmitted uplink signal.

In a second of the present disclosure, an embodiment is directed to oneor more computer-readable storage media having computer-executableinstructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method formitigating uplink signal interference. The method includes transmittingan uplink signal from a first node to a second node. The uplink signalis transmitted using an uplink signal transmit power level associatedwith the first node. The second node and at least a third node arelocated within an uplink signal coverage area that is based in part onthe uplink signal transmit power level. In embodiments, the first nodecan be a subject node, the second node can be a serving node, and thethird node can be a non-serving node. The first node receives, amongother things, a third node downlink signal from the third node. Thereceived third node downlink signal has at least one signalcharacteristic that is determined by the first node. The first nodereduces the uplink signal transmit power level by an amount that isbased at least in part on the third node downlink signal characteristic.The uplink signal coverage area is reduced in response to reducing theuplink signal transmit power level. Reduction of the uplink signalcoverage area reduces the amount of interference on at least the thirdnode caused by the transmitted uplink signal.

In a third aspect of the present disclosure, an embodiment is directedto a computerized system that comprises one or more processors and oneor more computer storage media storing computer-usable instructionsthat, when used by the one or more processors, cause the one or moreprocessors to mitigate uplink signal interference. An uplink signal istransmitted from a relay node to a serving node. The uplink signal istransmitted at a total uplink signal transmit power level that is basedat least in part on a gain level associated with a directional antennacoupled to the relay node, and further in part on an adjustable uplinksignal transmit power level associated with the relay node. The relaynode receives, among other things, a particular non-serving nodedownlink signal from a particular non-serving node. The particularnon-serving node downlink signal has a particular non-serving nodedownlink signal power level that is ascertained by the relay node. Therelay node determines that the ascertained particular non-serving nodedownlink signal power level exceeds a predetermined threshold. Inresponse to determining that the ascertained particular non-serving nodedownlink signal power level exceeds the predetermined threshold, therelay node reduces the adjustable uplink signal transmit power level,thereby also reducing the total uplink signal transmit power level atwhich the uplink signal is transmitted. In this regard, the amount ofinterference on at least the particular non-serving node caused by thetransmitted uplink signal is mitigated.

In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, an embodiment is directedto a computer-implemented method for optimally positioning a directionalantenna. Instructions for positioning a directional antenna in each of aplurality of potential orientations are provided. For each of thepotential orientations in which the directional antenna is positioned, acorresponding serving node signal power level is ascertained. Also, foreach of the potential orientations in which the directional antenna ispositioned, a corresponding uplink signal transmit power reductionamount is calculated. A determination is made, selecting one of theplurality of potential orientations as an optimal orientation forpositioning the directional antenna. The determination is made based onthe ascertained serving node signal power levels and the calculateduplink signal transmit power reduction amounts. In this way, the optimalorientation for positioning the directional antenna is determined.

In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, an embodiment is directedto one or more computer-readable storage media havingcomputer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed,perform a method for optimally positioning a directional antenna.Instructions are provided to position a directional antenna in each of aplurality of potential orientations. For each of the potentialorientations, a serving node signal power level is ascertained, anuplink signal transmit power reduction amount is calculated, and a sumthereof is calculated, each corresponding to the potential orientation.Based on one of the plurality of potential orientations having acorresponding sum that is a maximum sum, the optimal orientation isdetermined. In this way, the optimal orientation for positioning thedirectional antenna is determined, where the corresponding serving nodedownlink signal at the optimal orientation is maximized, while the needto reduce non-serving node interference at the optimal orientation isminimized.

In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, an embodiment is directedto a computerized system that comprises one or more processors and oneor more computer storage media storing computer-usable instructionsthat, when used by the one or more processors, cause the one or moreprocessors to optimally position a directional antenna. Instructions areprovided to position a directional antenna in each of a plurality ofpotential orientations. For each potential orientation, a correspondingserving node signal power level and non-serving node signal power levelare ascertained, and a corresponding uplink signal transmit powerreduction amount is calculated. The corresponding uplink signal transmitpower reductions amounts are calculated based on ascertained non-servingnode signal power levels corresponding to each of the potentialorientations. A determination is made, selecting one of the potentialorientations as an optimal orientation. The determination is made basedon a comparison of each of the ascertained serving node signal powerlevels to a serving node power threshold, and another comparison of eachof the ascertained non-serving node power levels to a non-serving nodesignal power threshold.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an exemplary network environment suitable for usein implementing embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated anddesignated generally as a network environment 200. Network environment200 is but one example of a suitable network environment and is notintended to suggest any limitations as to the scope of use orfunctionality of embodiments described herein. Neither should thenetwork environment be interpreted as having any dependency orrequirement relating to any one or combination of componentsillustrated.

In the network environment 200, one or more subject nodes 210 maycommunicate directly or indirectly with other serving nodes connected toa network 220. Depending on the wireless communication technologiesemployed by the network environment 200, a serving node might bereferred to as or include a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio basestation (RBS), a base station (BS), a node B (in 3G networks), or aneNodeB (in LTE network). The subject node 210 may take on a variety offorms, such as a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a tablet, anotebook, a mobile phone, a Smart phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a relay node (RN), or any other User Equipment (UE) that iscapable of wirelessly communicating with the other nodes in the network200. The subject node 210 may comprise the communications device 100 ofFIG. 1, and as such can include, for example, a display(s), a powersource(s) (e.g., a battery), a data store(s), a speaker(s), memory, abuffer(s), an antenna, and the like. In embodiments, the subject node210 comprises a wireless or mobile device with which awireless-telecommunication-network(s) (e.g., the network environment200) can be utilized for communication (e.g., voice and/or datacommunication). In this regard, the subject node 210 can be any UserEquipment or Relay Node that communicates by way of, for example, a 3Gor 4G network.

In embodiments, the subject node 210 can comprise and/or be coupled toan antenna, such as directional antenna 215. That is, the subject node210 can employ at least one of an omnidirectional antenna or adirectional antenna to communicate with other subject nodes (e.g., UserEquipment, etc.) and/or with a serving node 230 a (e.g., a BTS oreNodeB). The subject node 210 can utilize the network environment 200 totransmit, via the directional antenna 215, an uplink signal from atransmitter (not shown) of the subject node 210 to an intendedrecipient, such as serving node 230 a. Moreover, the subject node 210can utilize the network environment 200 to receive, via the directionalantenna 215, a downlink signal from a serving node, such as serving node230 a, and in some instances, one or more non-serving nodes, such asnon-serving node 240 a. Although not shown, it is contemplated that aplurality of non-serving nodes (not shown) can also present in thenetwork environment 200. It is further contemplated that any number inthe plurality of non-serving nodes present in the network environment200 can receive interference from the transmitted uplink signal, andalso transmit a downlink signal that is received by the subject node210.

The subject node 210 can comprise an uplink signal interferencemitigation component 218. The uplink signal interference mitigationcomponent 218 can be configured to mitigate uplink signal interferencecaused by the subject node's transmitted uplink signal. Morespecifically, the uplink signal interference mitigation component 218can adjust, based on downlink signals received by the subject node 210,a power level at which the uplink signal is transmitted by the subjectnode 210 in order to reduce the amount of interference caused by thetransmitted uplink signal to unintended recipients of the signal, aswill be described in more detail herein. In embodiments, the uplinksignal interference mitigation component 218 can calculate a reductionamount for the uplink signal transmission power level, based on thereceived downlink signals, particularly from adjacent non-serving nodes(e.g., non-serving nodes 240 a).

In embodiments, the network 220 is a telecommunications network(s), or aportion thereof. The network environment 200 as illustrated is merely aportion of network 220. A telecommunications network might include anarray of devices or components, some of which are not shown so as to notobscure more relevant aspects of the embodiments described herein.Components such as terminals, links, and nodes (as well as othercomponents) can provide connectivity in some embodiments. The network220 can include multiple networks, as well as being a network ofnetworks, but is shown in more simple form so as to not obscure otheraspects of the present disclosure. The network 220 can be part of atelecommunications network that connects subscribers or users to theirimmediate service provider. In embodiments, the network 220 can beassociated with a telecommunications provider that provides services tomobile devices, such as the subject node 210. For example, the network220 may provide voice and/or data services to mobile devices orcorresponding users that are registered to utilize the services providedby a telecommunications provider. The network 220 can be anycommunication network providing voice and/or data service(s), such as,for example, a 1× circuit voice, a 3G network (e.g., CDMA, CDMA2000,WCDMA, GSM, UMTS), or a 4G network (WiMAX, LTE, HSDPA).

The network environment 200 may include a database (not shown). Thedatabase may be similar to the memory component 112A of FIG. 1 and canbe any type of medium that is capable of storing information. Thedatabase can be any collection of records. In one embodiment, thedatabase includes a set of embodied computer-executable instructionsthat, when executed, facilitate various aspects disclosed herein. Theseembodied instructions will variously be referred to as “instructions” oran “application” for short.

Although network environment 200 is illustrated with single components,as can be appreciated, the components are scalable and any number ofeach of the components may exist in the network environment. Further,although not illustrated herein, additional components or combination ofcomponents may exist within the network environment 200. While FIG. 2 isgenerally described in relation to uplink signal interferencemitigation, as can be appreciated, any other subject node-controlled oroperated component(s) are also contemplated in accordance withembodiments described herein.

In one embodiment, the network environment 200 also includes a servingnode 230 a and one or more non-serving nodes 240 a. The serving node 230a generally services subject nodes located within corresponding servingnode sector(s). However, in accordance with embodiments describedherein, a serving node can service subject nodes outside of itscorresponding coverage area 235 a, particularly when the subject nodeemploys a directional antenna to facilitate transmission and receipt ofcommunication signals, as will be described. The serving node 230 a is,as one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate, a node (e.g., a BTSor eNodeB) that is presently providing services (e.g., sharing its radioresources) to a particular subject node, such as subject node 210. Thenon-serving node 240 a is a node that is not presently providingservices to subject node 210 when serviced by serving node 230 a.Similar to serving node 230 a, the non-serving node also hascorresponding sector(s) and may be presently providing services to othersubject nodes located within its corresponding coverage area 245 a. Inessence, the serving node 230 a can be in communication with (i.e.,receives an uplink signal from and sends a downlink signal to) aparticular subject node, such as subject node 210, to facilitatecommunication between the subject node and the network 220.

In some instances, it is contemplated that the serving node 230 a mayalso be a relay node. By way of example only, the subject node 210 canbe a UE, and the serving node 230 a can be a relay node configured toshare radio resources with the subject node 210. In such a case,however, the relay node would also be in communication with anotherserving node (not shown) (for instance, a BTS or eNodeB) that is indirect communication with the network 220, so that all components (e.g.,the subject node and the RN) can directly or indirectly communicate withthe network 220. With respect to FIG. 2, however, the serving node 230 ais illustrated and described herein as a BTS, eNodeB, or comparablenode, while the subject node 210 is illustrated and described herein asa UE or a RN.

In one embodiment, the subject node 210 is in communication with servingnode 230 a. In other words, the subject node 210 transmits an uplinksignal intended for serving node 230 a, and receives a downlink signalfrom serving node 230 a intended for subject node 210. As describedherein above, communications between the serving node 230 a and subjectnode 210 are intentional because, among other things, subject node 210is located within the serving node's sector(s) (i.e., signal coveragearea 235 a) and the signal strength (e.g., power or SNR) of servingnode's 230 a downlink signals are higher (e.g., stronger) than otherpotential serving nodes. The subject node 210 can include and employ adirectional antenna 215 to send and receive signals for communicatingwith the subject node 210. As was described above, directional antenna215 can transmit an uplink signal having a much greater coverage area217 and/or coverage distance than what a conventional omnidirectionalantenna may cover. As such, the transmitted uplink signal may extendbeyond a coverage area necessary to communicate with the serving node230 a, and undesirably interfere with one or more adjacent non-servingnodes, such as non-serving node 240 a, located within the coverage area217 of the transmitted uplink signal.

As will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 4, the uplinksignal interference mitigation component 218 can mitigate uplink signalinterference caused by the subject node's 210 transmitted uplink signal.More specifically, the uplink signal interference mitigation component218 can reduce, based on downlink signals received by the subject node210, a power level at which the uplink signal is transmitted by thesubject node 210 in order to reduce the amount of interference caused bythe transmitted uplink signal to unintended recipients of the signal. Insome instances, reduction of the uplink signal transmit power level canreduce the coverage area 217 associated with the transmitted uplinksignal. In this way, if the coverage area 217 is reduced such that anunintended recipient is no longer located in or is less encompassed bythe transmitted uplink signal, then interference caused to theunintended recipient is naturally reduced. In further instances,reduction of the uplink signal transmit power level can reduce thestrength of the uplink signal transmission so that signal interferencecaused to the unintended recipients (e.g., non-serving nodes) istolerable.

Turning now to FIG. 3, another exemplary network environment suitablefor use in implementing further embodiments of the present disclosure isillustrated and designated generally as a network environment 300.Network environment 300 is but one example of a suitable networkenvironment and is not intended to suggest any limitations as to thescope of use or functionality of embodiments described herein. Neithershould the network environment be interpreted as having any dependencyor requirement relating to any one or combination of componentsillustrated.

In the network environment 300, the network environment 200 of FIG. 2 isprovided further including potential serving nodes 230 a, 330 c andcorresponding non-serving nodes 240 a, 340 c, 350 c. While theillustrations only show two potential serving nodes 230 a, 330 c andthree corresponding non-serving nodes 240 a, 340 c, 350 c, it iscontemplated that any number of potential serving nodes andcorresponding non-serving nodes be present in the network environmentwhile remaining within the purview of the present disclosure. Amongother things, the subject node 210 can further comprise an optimalantenna orientation determining component 318 for determining an optimalorientation for positioning the antenna of the subject node 210, as willbe described. Although not shown, the directional antenna can bemanually adjusted, electronically adjusted (e.g., via an electronicmotor), or may comprise a plurality of directional antennas positionedat each of a plurality of potential orientations.

The optimal antenna orientation determining component 318 can determinean optimal orientation from a plurality of potential orientations forpositioning the directional antenna 215 and/or transmitting an uplinksignal from the directional antenna 215. In essence, the optimal antennaorientation determining component 318 determines which potentialorientation for the antenna can provide the best balance between servingnode downlink signal quality and subject node uplink signal interferencemitigation. As will be described, the optimal antenna orientationdetermining component 318 can determine the optimal antenna orientationbased on ascertained serving node signal power levels and calculateduplink signal transmit power reduction amounts for each potentialorientation in a plurality of potential orientations. As will bereferenced herein, an “orientation” can be an azimuthal angle or degreesof rotation from a reference point at which a directional antenna ispointed.

While some embodiments described herein describe the optimal antennaorientation determining component 318 as providing instructions to anelectric motor configured to adjust the orientation of the directionalantenna 215 of subject node 210, it is contemplated that a variety ofimplementations for determining an optimal orientation of a directionalantenna be within the purview of the present disclosure. In one example,a plurality of directional antennas positioned at various potentialorientations can be coupled to subject node 210 and activatedone-by-one, where one of the plurality of directional antennas facing aparticular potential orientation can be determined as the optimalorientation by the optimal antenna orientation determining component318.

In another example, the directional antenna is not motor driven, butconfigured to be manually adjusted to each of a plurality of potentialorientations provided for display by an orientation indicator. In thisregard, the optimal antenna orientation determining component 318 canprovide prompts, via the orientation indicator, to adjust thepositioning of the antenna to each potential orientation. The optimalantenna orientation determining component 318 can further coordinate theascertaining of signal characteristics and calculating of uplinktransmit power reduction levels at each potential orientation, in orderto determine the optimal orientation for positioning the directionalantenna 215, in accordance with embodiments described herein. To thisend, the optimal antenna orientation determining component 318 canprovide for display the determined optimal orientation based on dataobtained at each potential orientation.

In an embodiment, the network environment 300 includes one or morepotential serving nodes, such as potential serving nodes 230 a, 330 c,and one or more non-serving nodes, such as non-serving nodes 240 a, 340c. The subject node 210 could communicate with any one of the pluralityof potential serving nodes 230 a, 330 c, based on an orientation inwhich the directional antenna 215 is positioned. However, some of thepotential orientations may result in diminished connection quality. Forinstance, when the subject node's antenna is positioned in a particularorientation, a downlink signal from a potential serving nodecorresponding to that particular orientation may be strong, butexcessive interference caused to one or more non-serving nodes by thesubject node when its antenna is positioned at the particularorientation may require a large amount of interference mitigation foradjacent non-serving nodes. As a consequence, the uplink signal strengthwill need to be reduced, thereby diminishing the signal/connectionquality to the serving node. In another instance, when compared to otherpotential orientations, a particular orientation may point to aparticular serving node that provides weaker signal/connection qualitywith the subject node, but may require little to no interferencemitigation. In an effort to determine an optimal orientation for thedirectional antenna 215 of the subject node 210, the subject node 210employs the optimal antenna orientation determining component 318 togenerate data when the antenna is positioned at each potentialorientation, and determine, based on the generated data, an optimalorientation to position the directional antenna.

The subject node 210 can be in communication with one serving node at atime. That is, the subject node 210 exchanges radio transmissions withone particular serving node that can enable the subject node's 210connectivity to the network 220. In circumstances where the subjectnode's uplink signal reaches a non-serving node, the subject node'suplink signal may cause interference therewith. It is also contemplatedthat the subject node's antenna can detect (hereinafter also referencedas “receive”) downlink signals from one or more non-serving nodes,especially in circumstances where non-serving nodes are adjacent to aserving node and/or within the coverage area of the subject node uplinksignal.

Generally, communications between the serving node 230 a and subjectnode 210 are intentional because, among other things, the subject node210 has determined that the signal strength of serving node's 230 adownlink signals are higher (i.e., stronger) than other potentialserving nodes, thereby providing better signal quality to the subjectnode 210. In accordance with embodiments described herein, the subjectnode 210 can determine an optimal orientation for positioning itsdirectional antenna and select a serving node based on potential servingnode downlink signal strengths and the levels of interference caused toadjacent non-serving nodes when positioned at each potentialorientation.

As was described above, directional antenna 215 can transmit an uplinksignal having a much greater coverage area 217 and/or coverage distancethan what a conventional omnidirectional antenna may cover. As such, thetransmitted uplink signal may extend beyond a coverage area necessary tocommunicate with the serving node 230 a, and undesirably interfere withone or more adjacent non-serving nodes, such as non-serving node 240 a,located within the coverage area 217 of the transmitted uplink signal.

As will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4-5, theoptimal antenna orientation determining component 318 can determine anoptimal orientation for positioning a directional antenna of a subjectnode. More specifically, the optimal antenna orientation determiningcomponent 318 can communicate with a directional antenna, or componentsthereof, to transmit an uplink signal at a non-reduced power level(i.e., not having any power reduction applied thereto) to each ofplurality of potential orientations and obtain data therefrom. Based onthe data obtained from the directional antenna at each of the potentialorientations, the optimal antenna orientation determining component 318can determine which of the potential orientations provides the bestserving sector.

Moving now to FIG. 4, in reference generally to subject node 210 of FIG.2, uplink signal interference mitigation component 218 of FIGS. 2 and 3,and optimal antenna orientation determining component 318 of FIG. 3, anexemplary configuration of a system 400 configured to mitigate uplinksignal interference to non-serving nodes and/or determine an optimalorientation of a directional antenna is provided. The illustrated system400 includes a subject node 410 coupled to an antenna 420. In accordancewith embodiments herein, an antenna 420 can comprise one or moreantennas. More specifically, the subject node 410 can be configured tosupport multiple-input and multiple-output (“MIMO”) for spectralefficiency, as one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate, and assuch, may comprise more than one antenna.

The radio 440 includes a receiver 441 and a transmitter 442. Thereceiver 441 is configured to receive and/or demodulate downlink signals423 received by way of the antenna 420. The transmitter 442, on theother hand, is configured to transmit and/or modulate uplink signals 422for transmission by way of the antenna 420. The transmitter 442 cancommunicate to the antenna 420 for transmission, the uplink signals 422having a power level that can be adjusted by the subject node 410 orcomponents thereof. It is contemplated that the paths and any otherconnections between the illustrated components can be facilitatedthrough a direct wired connection (e.g., fiber optics or electricalwiring), such as wire (e.g., coaxial cable) 430, or through an indirectconnection (e.g., through a network router).

In some embodiments, the antenna 420 can have an associated gain valuethat corresponds to an amount of power that the antenna can transmit theuplink signal 422. In other words, the antenna gain corresponds to howwell the antenna 420 focuses the transmitter output power into aparticular direction or orientation in which the antenna 420 ispositioned. The antenna 420 can also be configured with a beam width 421that corresponds to a propagation width and area of a transmitted uplinksignal. To this end, when employing the antenna 420, the subject node410 can transmit the uplink signal 422 from the subject node 410 with atotal uplink signal transmit power level that is based at least in parton a sum of the an uplink signal transmit power level and a gain levelassociated with the antenna 420.

While the exemplary configuration embodies a directional antenna, it iscontemplated that any number or type of antennas be employed whileremaining within the scope of the present disclosure. For instance, theantenna 420 can be an omnidirectional antenna. In another instance, theantenna 420 can be a plurality of directional antennas each positionedin a potential orientation.

The subject node 410 can include various components configured toanalyze downlink signals received by the antenna 420. The subject node410 can include, among other things, a RF signal processor 444 (e.g., adigital signal processor) configured to analyze downlink signals 423received by the antenna 420 of the subject node 410. The RF signalprocessor 444 may include the ability to ascertain characteristics ofthe signals 423 being received by the subject node 410. Characteristicsascertained by the RF signal processor 444 may include, among otherthings, whether the received signal 423 is from a serving node or anon-serving node, which serving node or non-serving node the receivedsignal is from, power measurements of the received signal (e.g., SNR,SINR, RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, average power, power, etc.).

In one embodiment, the subject node 410 may also include an uplinksignal interference mitigation component 446 configured to mitigate theamount of uplink signal interference caused to one or more non-servingnodes by the subject node 410 by reducing the transmit power level ofthe uplink signal. In further embodiments, the subject node 410 may alsoinclude an optimal antenna orientation determining component 448configured to determine an optimal orientation at which to position theantenna 420. Further, while the illustrated embodiment shows the uplinksignal interference mitigation component 446 and optimal antennaorientation determining component 448 as subcomponents of the subjectnode 410, it is contemplated that any combination of the components canalso be subcomponents or features of the radio 440. In embodiments, thesubject node 410 also includes a memory 450, comprising one or morecomputer-readable media configured to store data and instructions formitigating uplink signal interference and determining optimal antennaorientation, in accordance with embodiments described herein.

As was described hereinabove, the uplink signal interference mitigationcomponent 446 can be configured to reduce the amount of interferencecaused by the uplink signal 422 of the subject node 410 to one or morenon-serving nodes (not shown) adjacent to a serving node (not shown) orotherwise within the coverage area of the uplink signal 422. The uplinksignal interference mitigation component 446 can reduce the amount ofinterference caused to the one or more non-serving nodes by reducing theuplink transmit power levels in transmitter 442. In accordance withembodiments described herein, a non-serving node is generally “adjacent”to a serving node when it neighbors a serving node. The non-servingnodes affected by the uplink signal 422 typically include, but are notlimited to, non-serving nodes located within the coverage area of theuplink signal 422.

In embodiments, the subject node 410 employs the antenna 420 to transmitan uplink signal 422 to a serving node. At the same time, the antenna420 can receive one or more downlink signals 423 from a variety ofnodes, including the serving node and one or more non-serving nodes. Inthis regard, the antenna 420 may receive a serving node downlink signaland one or more non-serving node downlink signals. The downlink signals423 are communicated to the RF signal processor 444 and analyzed therebyto ascertain characteristics of the received downlink signals. As wasdescribed, ascertained characteristics for each downlink signal 423received may include the node of signal origin, a serving or non-servingstate of the originating node with respect to the subject node 410, areceived signal power level corresponding to the received downlinksignal, among many other characteristics. In some embodiments, theascertained characteristics can be stored in a memory 450 of the subjectnode.

The uplink signal interference mitigation component 446 can eitherinterface (i.e., communicate) with the RF signal processor 444, orretrieve data from memory 450, to obtain the ascertained signalcharacteristics of the received downlink signals. The uplink signalinterference mitigation component 446 can obtain and analyze thecharacteristics of the received downlink signals originating from boththe serving node and the one or more non-serving nodes. In instanceswhere the uplink signal interference mitigation component 446determines, based on the ascertained signal characteristics, that onlyone particular non-serving node is responsible for sending the receivednon-serving node downlink signal(s), the uplink signal interferencemitigation component 446 will select the received non-serving nodedownlink signals from the particular non-serving node for furtheranalysis.

In instances where the uplink signal interference mitigation component446 determines that a plurality of non-serving node downlink signalswere received, the uplink signal interference mitigation component 446can determine which one of the received non-serving node downlinksignals has a strongest signal power level. To this end, the uplinksignal interference mitigation component 446 will select the non-servingnode downlink signal with the strongest signal power level for furtheranalysis. In essence, the non-serving node downlink signal with thestrongest signal power level is selected to determine whether thetransmitted uplink signal 422 causes excessive interference with theparticular non-serving node corresponding to the selected “strongest”non-serving node downlink signal.

The uplink signal interference mitigation component 446 can determinethat the transmitted uplink signal 422 causes excessive interferencewith the particular non-serving node by employing at least one of themethods described herein. In one instance, a power level threshold maybe predefined (for instance, by an administrator or manufacturer of oneor more components of system 400) and utilized to compare with thesignal power level of the selected non-serving node downlink signal.When the uplink signal interference mitigation component 446 determinesthat the signal power level of the selected non-serving node downlinksignal exceeds the power level threshold, a determination is made thatthe uplink signal 422 transmitted by the subject node 410 is causingexcessive interference to the non-serving node corresponding to (i.e.,responsible for transmitting) the selected non-serving node downlinksignal.

The uplink signal interference mitigation component 446 can interfacewith the radio 440 to adjust the transmit power level of the uplinksignal in order to mitigate the interference caused to the particularnon-serving node. In more detail, the uplink signal interferencemitigation component 446 can determine a specific amount to adjust theuplink signal transmit power level based on how much the signal powerlevel of the selected non-serving node downlink signal exceeds the powerlevel threshold. In essence, the uplink signal interference mitigationcomponent 446 instructs the radio 440 to reduce the transmit power levelof the uplink signal by the difference of the selected non-serving nodedownlink signal power level and the power level threshold.

In another instance, a lookup table may be employed by the uplink signalinterference mitigation component 446 for referencing the ascertainedsignal power level of the selected non-serving node downlink signal. Thelookup table can be stored in any one of the components of subject node410, including memory 450. The lookup table provides, for any referencedsignal power level associated with a particular non-serving nodedownlink signal, a corresponding power reduction amount for mitigatinguplink signal interference caused to the non-serving node responsiblefor transmitting the non-serving node downlink signal.

In some instances, the lookup table may indicate that no power reductionis necessary and thus the subject node does not apply any interferencemitigation to the uplink signal 422. In other instances, the lookuptable may provide a power reduction amount that enables the uplinksignal interference mitigation component 446 to determine, among otherthings, that the uplink signal 422 transmitted by the subject node 410is causing excessive interference to the particular non-serving nodecorresponding to the selected non-serving node downlink signal. When theuplink signal interference mitigation component 446 determines thatexcessive interference to the particular non-serving node is caused bythe uplink signal 422, it obtains the appropriate power reduction amountreferenced via the lookup table, and instructs the radio 440 to reducethe transmit power level of the uplink signal 422 by the referencedpower reduction amount. In this regard, the interference caused to theparticular non-serving node (and any other non-serving nodes) by theuplink signal 422 is mitigated.

In some instances, a server sector may send a request to the subjectnode, requesting that the subject node increase its uplink signaltransmit power level. Such requests are typically made in traditionalpower control procedures between serving nodes and subject nodes. Inthis regard, for such configurations, power reduction must be applied atall times that the subject node is transmitting, except while performinginitialization procedures. For instance, if a serving sector requeststhat the subject node increase its uplink signal transmit power level,the subject node can be configured to reject the request by reporting(to the serving node) a false negative. For example, a false negativemay be a communication, from the subject node to the serving node,indicating a negative power headroom, or that a maximum transmit powerlevel has been reached, among other things. In essence, the falsenegative is communicated from the subject node to the serving node,indicating that an uplink signal transmit power level increase cannot beperformed by the subject node.

It is within the purview of the present disclosure that the uplinksignal interference mitigation component 446 can be configured todetermine whether the transmitted uplink signal creates excessiveinterference with a particular non-serving node and to take action(e.g., reduce the uplink signal transmit power level) based on thedetermination in response to the passing of any predefined interval(e.g., every 24 hours, 7 days, 1 year, etc.), a received command, asetup or power-up procedure, any other scheduled event, or evenunscheduled events (e.g., weather interference or serviceinterruptions). It is also contemplated that in response to a passing ofeach interval or in response to a received command, the power reductionamount is reset to a null value by the uplink signal interferencemitigation component 446, such that a new determination on excessiveinterference and uplink signal transmit power reduction amount is made.

As was also described hereinabove, the optimal antenna orientationdetermining component 448 can be configured to determine an optimalorientation at which to position the antenna 420. The optimal antennaorientation determining component 448 can determine which potentialorientation, among a plurality of potential orientations, is an optimalorientation at which the subject node 410 can receive a strong downlinksignal from a serving node while causing minimal interference toadjacent non-serving nodes. The optimal antenna orientation determiningcomponent 448 can, among other things, provide instructions to transmitthe uplink signal 422 from the subject node 410 and receive one or moredownlink signals 423 at each potential orientation and make adetermination for the optimal orientation based on data obtained at eachpotential orientation. As was described, the instructions can be sent toa motor for rotating the antenna to each potential orientation, agraphical interface or indicator for manually adjusting the antenna toeach potential orientation, or a fixed array of directional antennaspointing at each potential orientations.

In some embodiments, each potential orientation can be manually providedto the optimal antenna orientation determining component 448. Forinstance, each potential orientation can be stored in a memory 450 ofsubject node 410, or programmatically input to the optimal antennaorientation determining component 448. In some embodiments, eachpotential orientation can be determined by the optimal antennaorientation determining component 448 when an input comprising a rangeof orientations and/or an rotation interval is provided thereto.

For instance, looking briefly at FIG. 5, a diagram 500 representingazimuthal directions for a directional antenna is provided. Morespecifically, the diagram illustrates a range of potential orientationsat which an antenna 510 can be positioned. In some instances, the rangeof potential orientations can be 360-degrees around a reference point,such as the 0-degree marker. By way of example only, if a rotationinterval of 15-degrees is provided along with a 360-degree range oforientations, a total of 24 different potential orientations may bedetermined by the optimal antenna orientation determining component 448.

In another instance, looking at diagram 500 in light of FIG. 3, thereare two known potential serving nodes 230 a, 330 c for subject node 210.By way of example only, the two known potential serving nodes 230 a, 330c are known to be located between the 45-degree and 135-degree referencepoints, respective of antenna 510. In some embodiments, this range(e.g., 45-135) can be provided to the optimal antenna orientationdetermining component 448, with a rotation interval (e.g., 30 degrees),so that the antenna orientation determining component 448 can determineeach potential orientation. Here, diagram 500 illustrates threepotential orientations determined for positioning the antenna: roughly70-degrees 216 a, 100-degrees 216 b, and 130-degrees 216 c. It iscontemplated that the aforementioned methods for determining thepotential orientations are by way of non-limiting example only, and thatany method for determining potential orientations can be employed withinthe scope of the present disclosure.

In embodiments, the subject node 410 employs the antenna 420 to transmitan uplink signal 422 toward each potential orientation. The subject node410 may or may not be in communication with a potential serving nodewhen positioned at any one of the potential orientations. In any one ofthe potential orientations, the antenna 420 can receive one or moredownlink signals 423 from a variety of nodes, which may include apotential serving node and one or more non-serving nodes. However, insome potential orientations, there may be no nodes suitable to servicethe subject node. Thus, it is possible that no downlink signals 423 arereceived by the subject node 410 in some of the potential orientations.

In some potential orientations, however, the antenna 420 may receive anycombination of one or more serving node downlink signals and/or one ormore non-serving node downlink signals. The downlink signals 423 arecommunicated to the RF signal processor 444 and analyzed thereby toascertain characteristics of the received downlink signals. As wasdescribed, ascertained characteristics for each downlink signal 423received may include the node of signal origin, a serving or non-servingstate of the originating node with respect to the subject node 410, areceived signal power level corresponding to the received downlinksignal, among many other characteristics. In some embodiments, theascertained characteristics can be stored in a memory 450 of the subjectnode. In accordance with embodiments described herein, a serving nodedownlink signal having the strongest power level among a plurality ofserving node downlink signals is selected as the particular serving nodefor the subject node 410 at each potential orientation. Similarly, anon-serving node downlink signal having the strongest power level amonga plurality of non-serving node downlink signals is selected as theparticular non-serving node for the subject node 410 at each potentialorientation.

The optimal antenna orientation determining component 448 can store inmemory 450, or coordinate the storage thereto, a signal power levelascertained by RF signal processor that corresponds to the particular(i.e., “strongest”) serving node at each potential orientation. Inaddition, the optimal antenna orientation determining component 448 canfurther store or coordinate the storage of an uplink signal transmitpower reduction amount determined by the uplink signal interferencemitigation component 446 for each potential orientation, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, theoptimal antenna orientation determining component 448 can calculate asum, for each potential orientation, both the ascertained serving nodesignal power level for the particular serving node and the uplink signaltransmit power reduction amount for a particular non-serving node. Thesum value represents the balance between the serving node downlinksignal strength and required uplink signal interference mitigation whenthe antenna 420 is positioned at any one potential orientation.

It is contemplated that the power reduction amount determined by theuplink signal interference mitigation component 446 at each potentialorientation is reset to a null value prior to changing the orientationof uplink signal transmissions (e.g., by repositioning the antenna), butafter the data corresponding to the potential orientation is stored. Inthis way, the optimal antenna orientation determining component 448 canstore accurate data for each potential orientation before determiningwhich potential orientation is the optimal orientation.

In one embodiment, the optimal antenna orientation determining component448 can determine the optimal orientation by determining which one ofthe stored sum values corresponding to one of the potential orientationsis a maximum sum. In other words, the optimal antenna orientationdetermining component 448 determines which sum value stored for thepotential orientations represents the highest value. In this regard, thepotential orientation corresponding to the maximum sum is determined tobe the optimal orientation for the antenna. In essence, at the optimalorientation, the serving node downlink signal power level is high andthe adjacent non-serving node downlink signal power level is low.

In another embodiment, the optimal antenna orientation determiningcomponent 448 can determine the optimal orientation by comparingpredetermined thresholds to both the “strongest” ascertained servingnode signal power level and non-serving node signal power levelcorresponding to each potential orientation. More specifically, each“strongest” ascertained serving node signal power level is compared to apredetermined serving node signal power level threshold. Any ascertainedserving node signal power levels that are less than the predeterminedserving node signal power level threshold are removed fromconsideration. Further, each “strongest” ascertained non-serving nodesignal power level is compared to a predetermined non-serving nodesignal power level threshold. Any ascertained non-serving node signalpower levels that are greater than the predetermined serving node signalpower level threshold are removed from consideration. In essence, theoptimal antenna orientation determining component 448 can determine theoptimal orientation where both the “strongest” ascertained serving nodesignal power level corresponding to a particular orientation exceeds thepredetermined serving node signal power level threshold and thepredetermined serving node signal power level threshold exceeds the“strongest” ascertained non-serving node signal power level alsocorresponding to the particular orientation. It is contemplated that,outside of handover operations, the serving node signal power level isgenerally higher than the non-serving node signal power level.

Turning now to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, methods for mitigating uplink signalinterference to non-serving nodes are provided. In particular, FIGS. 6-8show flow diagrams illustrating methods to mitigate uplink signalinterference attributed to overreach of uplink signals transmitted fromdirectional antennas, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the order of steps shown in the method 600 of FIG. 6, method 700 ofFIG. 7, and method 800 of FIG. 8, are not meant to limit the scope ofthe present disclosures in any way and, in fact, the steps may occur ina variety of different sequences within embodiments hereof. Any and allsuch variations, and any combination thereof, are contemplated to bewithin the scope of embodiments described herein.

With initial reference to FIG. 6, in embodiments, method 600 can beperformed at a subject node, such as subject node 210 of FIG. 2. Morespecifically, method 600 might be performed by an uplink signalinterference mitigation component 218 of FIG. 2. Initially, as indicatedat block 610, an uplink signal is transmitted from a subject node to aserving node. The uplink signal is transmitted with a total uplinksignal transmit power level that is based at least in part on a gainlevel of an antenna coupled to the subject node and/or an adjustableuplink signal transmit power level associated with the subject node,among other things.

At block 620, at least a particular non-serving node downlink signal isreceived from a particular non-serving node. The particular non-servingnode downlink signal can be one of a plurality of non-serving nodedownlink signals received by the subject node. Each one of thenon-serving node downlink signals have signal characteristics, such as areceived signal power level, that can be ascertained by the subject nodeor components thereof. The particular non-serving node downlink signalis selected from the plurality of non-serving node downlink signals forhaving the strongest power level associated therewith.

At block 630, a determination is made by the subject node that thetransmitted uplink signal creates excessive interference with theparticular non-serving node. The determination is made by the subjectnode based on the received signal power level that corresponds to thenon-serving node downlink signal received from the particularnon-serving node.

At block 640, the subject node reduces the total uplink signal transmitpower level in response to determining that the transmitted uplinksignal creates excessive interference with the particular non-servingnode.

Turning now to FIG. 7, in embodiments, method 700 can be performed at asubject node, such as subject node 210 of FIG. 2. More specifically,method 700 might be performed by an uplink signal interferencemitigation component 218 of FIG. 2. Initially, as indicated at block710, an uplink signal is transmitted from a first node to a second node.The uplink signal is transmitted using an uplink signal transmit powerlevel. The second node and at least a third node are located within acoverage area of the transmitted uplink signal. The coverage area isbased in part on the uplink signal transmit power level. The first nodecan be a relay node, the second node can be a first base transceiverstation configured to serve the relay node, and the third node is asecond base transceiver station that is located within an initialcoverage area of the uplink signal.

At block 720, a downlink signal from the third node is received at thefirst node. The received downlink signal has at least one signalcharacteristic, for instance a signal power level, that is determined bythe first node.

At block 730, the uplink signal transmit power level is reduced by anamount that is based in part on the determined at least one signalcharacteristic of the third node downlink signal. The uplink signalcoverage area is also reduced in response to reducing the uplink signaltransmit power level. Once the uplink signal transmit power level isreduced, the third node is not located within the reduced coverage areaof the uplink signal.

Turning now to FIG. 8, in embodiments, method 800 can be performed at asubject node, such as subject node 210 of FIG. 2. More specifically,method 800 might be performed by an uplink signal interferencemitigation component 218 of FIG. 2. Initially, as indicated at block810, an uplink signal is transmitted from a relay node to a servingnode. The uplink signal is transmitted with a total uplink signaltransmit power level that is based at least in part on a gain level of adirectional antenna coupled to the subject node and/or an adjustableuplink signal transmit power level associated with the relay node, amongother things.

At block 820, the relay node receives at least a particular non-servingnode downlink signal from a particular non-serving node. The particularnon-serving node downlink signal can be one of a plurality ofnon-serving node downlink signals received by the relay node. Each oneof the non-serving node downlink signals have signal characteristics,such as a received signal power level, that can be ascertained by therelay node or a component thereof. The particular non-serving nodedownlink signal is selected from the plurality of non-serving nodedownlink signals for having the strongest power level associatedtherewith.

At block 830, a determination is made by the relay node that thetransmitted uplink signal creates excessive interference with theparticular non-serving node. The determination is made by the relay nodedetermining that the ascertained signal power level that corresponds tothe non-serving node downlink signal received from the particularnon-serving node exceeds a predetermined threshold.

At block 840, the relay node reduces the adjustable uplink signaltransmit power level in response to determining that the ascertaineddownlink signal power level of the received non-serving node downlinksignal exceeds the predetermined threshold. As a result, the totaluplink signal transmit power level at which the uplink signal istransmitted is also reduced.

Turning now to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, methods for determining optimalorientations for positioning a directional antenna are provided. Inparticular, FIGS. 9-11 show flow diagrams illustrating methods todetermining which of a plurality of potential orientations is optimalfor maintaining an optimal balance of serving node signal strength anduplink signal interference mitigation, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure. It will be understood by those of ordinary skillin the art that the order of steps shown in the method 900 of FIG. 9,method 1000 of FIG. 10, and method 1100 of FIG. 11, are not meant tolimit the scope of the present disclosures in any way and, in fact, thesteps may occur in a variety of different sequences within embodimentshereof. Any and all such variations, and any combination thereof, arecontemplated to be within the scope of embodiments described herein.

Turning now to FIG. 9, in embodiments, method 900 can be performed at asubject node, such as subject node 210 of FIG. 2. More specifically,method 900 might be performed by an optimal antenna orientationdetermining component 318 of FIG. 3. Initially, as indicated at block910, instructions are provided by the subject node to position adirectional antenna coupled to the subject node in each potentialorientation in a plurality of potential orientations. In other words,instructions are provided to change the direction at which the uplinksignals are transmitted from the subject node.

At block 920, a signal power level corresponding to a particular servingnode is ascertained by the subject node for each potential orientationin which the directional antenna is positioned. In accordance withembodiments described herein, the particular serving node is the servingnode that is associated with the “strongest” serving node downlinksignal received by the subject node.

At block 930, a power reduction amount for transmission of the uplinksignal is calculated or determined by the subject node, or componentsthereof, for each potential orientation in which the directional antennais positioned. In accordance with embodiments described herein, thepower reduction amount for any one of the potential orientations isdetermined based on a “strongest” non-serving node downlink signalreceived by the subject node when the directional antenna is in thepotential orientation.

At block 940, the subject node makes a determination that one of thepotential orientations is an optimal orientation based on the servingnode signal power levels ascertained by the subject node, and the powerreduction amounts calculated for the uplink signal. More specifically,the optimal orientation can be determined when a particular orientationcorresponds to a serving node signal power level and a calculated powerreduction amount that produces a sum that is greater than the sum ofcorresponding values in any other potential orientation.

Turning now to FIG. 10, in embodiments, method 1000 can be performed ata subject node, such as subject node 210 of FIG. 2. More specifically,method 1000 might be performed by an optimal antenna orientationdetermining component 318 of FIG. 3. Initially, as indicated at block1010, instructions are provided by the subject node to position adirectional antenna coupled to the subject node in each potentialorientation in a plurality of potential orientations. In other words,instructions are provided to change the direction at which the uplinksignals are transmitted from the subject node.

At block 1020, a signal power level corresponding to a particularserving node is ascertained by the subject node for each potentialorientation in which the directional antenna is positioned. Inaccordance with embodiments described herein, the particular servingnode is the serving node that is associated with the “strongest” servingnode downlink signal received by the subject node.

At block 1030, a power reduction amount for transmission of the uplinksignal is calculated or determined by the subject node, or componentsthereof, for each potential orientation in which the directional antennais positioned. In accordance with embodiments described herein, thepower reduction amount for any one of the potential orientations isdetermined based on a “strongest” non-serving node downlink signalreceived by the subject node when the directional antenna is in thepotential orientation.

At block 1040, a sum of the signal power level and power reductionamount corresponding to each potential orientation is calculated foreach potential orientation. At block 1050, the subject node makes adetermination that one of the potential orientations is an optimalorientation based on the one of the potential orientations having amaximum sum. More specifically, the optimal orientation can bedetermined when a particular orientation corresponds to a serving nodesignal power level and a calculated power reduction amount that producesa sum that is greater than the sum of corresponding values in any otherpotential orientation.

Turning now to FIG. 11, in embodiments, method 1100 can be performed ata subject node, such as subject node 210 of FIG. 2. More specifically,method 1100 might be performed by an optimal antenna orientationdetermining component 318 of FIG. 3. Initially, as indicated at block1110, instructions are provided by the subject node to position adirectional antenna coupled to the subject node in each potentialorientation in a plurality of potential orientations. In other words,instructions are provided to change the direction at which the uplinksignals are transmitted from the subject node.

At block 1120, a signal power level corresponding to a particularserving node and a signal power level corresponding to a particularnon-serving node is ascertained by the subject node for each potentialorientation in which the directional antenna is positioned. Inaccordance with embodiments described herein, the particular servingnode is the serving node that is associated with the “strongest” servingnode downlink signal received by the subject node, and the particularnon-serving node is the non-serving node that is associated with the“strongest” non-serving node downlink signal received by the subjectnode.

At block 1130, the subject node makes a determination that one of thepotential orientations is an optimal orientation based on the servingnode signal power levels ascertained by the subject node. Morespecifically, the optimal orientation can be determined when aparticular orientation corresponds to an ascertained serving node signalpower level that exceeds a serving node signal power threshold, andfurther corresponds to a non-serving node signal power threshold thatexceeds an ascertained non-serving node signal power level.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as wellas components not shown, are possible without departing from the scopeof the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been describedwith the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternativeembodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after andbecause of reading it. Alternative means of implementing theaforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of theclaims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility andmay be employed without reference to other features and subcombinationsand are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:communicating, by a computing device, instructions to an electronicmotor, wherein the instructions cause the electronic motor to position adirectional antenna configured to transmit an uplink signal in eachpotential orientation of a plurality of potential orientations;ascertaining, by the computing device for each potential orientation inwhich the directional antenna transmitting the uplink signal ispositioned, a corresponding serving node signal power level based on areceived serving node signal, and a corresponding non-serving nodesignal power level based on a received non-serving node signal;calculating, by the computing device for each potential orientation inwhich the directional antenna transmitting the uplink is positioned, acorresponding uplink signal transmit power reduction amount based atleast in part on the ascertained corresponding serving and non-servingnode signal power levels; determining, by the computing device, that oneof the plurality of potential orientations is an optimal orientationbased at least in part on the ascertained serving node signal powerlevels and the calculated uplink signal transmit power reductionamounts; and causing, by the computing device, the electronic motor toposition the directional antenna in the determined optimal orientation.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the directional antenna is coupled toa relay node.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the uplink signal istransmitted at a total output power level that corresponds to anadjustable transmit power level associated with the relay node.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the relay node is configured to reduce theadjustable transmit power level by any one of the calculated uplinksignal transmit power reduction amounts.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein for each potential orientation, the received serving node signalcorresponds to a determined strongest serving node downlink signal, andthe received non-serving node signal corresponds to a determinedstrongest non-serving node downlink signal.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the plurality of potential orientations is determined based on areceived input that defines a range of potential orientations.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: calculating, by the computingdevice for each potential orientation in which the directional antennais positioned, a corresponding sum of the corresponding ascertainedserving node signal power level and the corresponding calculated uplinksignal transmit power reduction amount, and wherein the optimalorientation is determined based further in part on a determined maximumsum of the calculated sums.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein toposition the directional antenna in a potential orientation is to directthe transmitted uplink signal in a direction that corresponds to thepotential orientation.
 9. A non-transitory computer storage mediumstoring computer-useable instructions that, when used by one or morecomputing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to performoperations comprising: providing for display, for each potentialorientation of a plurality of potential orientations, a correspondinginstruction to position a directional antenna in the potentialorientation; ascertaining, in accordance with the displayedcorresponding instruction for each potential orientation, acorresponding serving node signal power level based on a receivedserving node signal, and a corresponding non-serving node signal powerlevel based on a received non-serving node signal, wherein thecorresponding serving and non-serving node signals are received via thedirectional antenna in the potential orientation; calculating, inaccordance with the displayed corresponding instruction for eachpotential orientation, a corresponding uplink signal transmit powerreduction amount based at least in part on the ascertained correspondingserving and non-serving node signal power levels; calculating, inaccordance with the displayed corresponding instruction for eachpotential orientation, a corresponding sum of the ascertainedcorresponding serving node signal power level and the calculatedcorresponding uplink signal transmit power reduction amount; andproviding for display an optimal orientation of the plurality ofpotential orientations, the optimal orientation being associated with adetermined maximum sum of the calculated sums.
 10. The medium of claim9, wherein the plurality of potential orientations is determined basedon a received input that defines a range of potential orientations. 11.The medium of claim 9, wherein the directional antenna is coupled to arelay node configured to adjust an uplink signal, transmitted by thedirectional antenna, by any one of the calculated uplink signal transmitpower reduction amounts.
 12. The medium of claim 11, wherein for eachpotential orientation, the corresponding non-serving node is adjacent tothe corresponding serving node.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein theoptimal orientation is determined based further in part on theascertained non-serving node signal power levels.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the optimal orientation is determined based further inpart on a first comparison of the ascertained serving node signal powerlevels to a pre-defined serving node signal power threshold.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the optimal orientation is determined basedfurther in part on a second comparison of the ascertained non-servingnode signal power levels to a pre-defined non-serving node signal powerthreshold.